As rain continues, officials watch river and creeks

While the area's rainfall has diminished this week, it's been steady enough to keep local officials and residents watching the levels of the Ohio River and area creeks and streams already full from last week's deluge.

The flood stage, or level at which the river may exceed its banks, is 36 feet in most areas of Brooke, Hancock and Jefferson counties.

The National Weather Service predicted that by Saturday afternoon, the river will crest at about 37.3 feet at the New Cumberland Locks and Dam, 36.4 feet in Steubenville, 37.5 feet in Wellsburg, and 33.2 feet at the Pike Island Locks and Dam north of Wheeling.

Colton Milcarek, a meteorologist with the agency's office in Moon Township, Pa., said a quarter-inch to a half-inch of rainfall was expected into Saturday morning, not enough to contribute to flash flooding but also doing nothing to aid in reducing water levels that were flooded last week.

"Things will be a bit slower to drop off," he said while adding there is hope for dryer and warmer weather in the next few days.

Milcarek said the temperature could reach 74 degrees on Sunday, with less than one-tenth of an inch of rainfall expected that night, with more 70-degree highs anticipated on Monday and Tuesday.

Rain isn't expected to return until Tuesday and then there's a 30% chance of it, according to the National Weather Service.

Greg Moore, acting director of the Brooke County Emergency Management Agency, said he hopes the predictions prove to be correct, noting initial projections for the river's crest late last week also had been a foot and a half, and it rose to more than 40 feet.

Moore said many Wellsburg residents who live along the river will be watching it closely until the rain has subsided.

"They know what the water does when it comes up in their area and to be prepared," he said.

Jeremy Ober, Hancock County director of emergency management, said drivers also should watch for excess water on roadways.

Of the National Weather Service's projection for New Cumberland, Ober said, "This is going to put it very close. It doesn't appear it will be as bad as last week but we're still monitoring it."

He noted an area of state Route 2 near New Cumberland City Park was flooded last week and could become at least partially covered this weekend.

Ober said during Thursday night's heavy rain, "We had a lot of standing water on roads."

He said in the Kings Creek area of Weirton, water had risen to North 12th Street but had receded on Friday.

Ober said there still are areas where debris has been washed onto roadways and drivers should proceed cautiously.

Moore said there has been a lot of flooding along state Route 67, also known as Bethany Pike.

He said that includes the community of McKinleyville, where a couple of residents left their homes for higher ground and water entered the McKinleyville Fire Station, leading its volunteer members to move its vehicles.

John Parker, co-director of the Jefferson County EMA, said of the predictions, "Hopefully the rain will stay light."

Parker said impact from the heavy rain has ranged from two Steubenville homes plagued by slips to roadways in Amsterdam and Bergholz that have been covered with lower levels of water.

He confirmed the Jefferson County EMA will continue to monitor the river as well.

At about 1 p.m. Friday, Steubenville crews were dispatched to address a slide that brought material across a section of Sinclair Avenue.

Whatever happens this weekend, the recent deluge has made a lasting impact in some areas.

Among them is township Road 166, which remains closed indefinitely between Broadacre and county Road 22A after a slip resulted in two wide crevices across a 200-foot section of the road.